It’s one of the most powerful cards to come into Commander and has become the point of conversation since its printing in Commander Legends.
Hullbreacher
Hullbreacher
Flash
If an opponent would draw a card except the first one they draw in each of their draw steps, instead you create a Treasure token. (It's an artifact with "{T}, Sacrifice this token: Add one mana of any color.")
promotes miserable gameplay for those who attempt to play against it. As announced by the Commander Rules Committee today,
Hullbreacher
Hullbreacher
Flash
If an opponent would draw a card except the first one they draw in each of their draw steps, instead you create a Treasure token. (It's an artifact with "{T}, Sacrifice this token: Add one mana of any color.")
is now banned in the Commander format.
Read More: The Best Forgotten Realms MTG Commander Cards
Hullbreacher Banned in Commander
It may not be a surprise to see the Merfolk Pirate banned in Commander. It’s easily splashable and doesn’t offer any demands with the mana value. Even at three mana, it’s an aggressively under-costed effect for a card that is so game-warping. The Rules Committee thought enough was enough and banned the card in an announcement earlier today.
Hullbreacher is BANNED.
Hullbreacher has been a problem card since its release. Its ostensible defensive use against extra card draw has been dwarfed by offensively combining it with mass-draw effects to easily strip players hands while accelerating the controller. That play pattern isn’t something we want prevalent in casual play (see the Leovold ban), and we have seen a lot of evidence that it is too tempting even there, as it combines with wheels and other popular casual staples. The case against the card was overwhelming.
There remain a few similar cards that are still permitted, notably Notion Thief and Narset, Parter of Veils. The additional hoops required (an additional color pip for Notion Thief, and sorcery speed for Narset) appear to be keeping them to the appropriate level of play, though we’ll continue to keep an eye on them.
Source: The Commander Rules Committee
It also raises the question about
Windfall
Windfall
Each player discards their hand, then draws cards equal to the greatest number of cards a player discarded this way.
, a card that you often use alongside
Hullbreacher
Hullbreacher
Flash
If an opponent would draw a card except the first one they draw in each of their draw steps, instead you create a Treasure token. (It's an artifact with "{T}, Sacrifice this token: Add one mana of any color.")
. Before, you’d see
Windfall
Windfall
Each player discards their hand, then draws cards equal to the greatest number of cards a player discarded this way.
alongside
Leovold, Emissary of Trest
Leovold, Emissary of Trest
Each opponent can't draw more than one card each turn.
Whenever you or a permanent you control becomes the target of a spell or ability an opponent controls, you may draw a card.
and
Hullbreacher
Hullbreacher
Flash
If an opponent would draw a card except the first one they draw in each of their draw steps, instead you create a Treasure token. (It's an artifact with "{T}, Sacrifice this token: Add one mana of any color.")
, which are now both removed from the Commander format. By combining these two cards, you can make your Commander pod discard their hand and unable to draw any cards. This plan is more than enough for someone to win a game, and cause frustration in players around them.
Maybe there will be a time where
Windfall
Windfall
Each player discards their hand, then draws cards equal to the greatest number of cards a player discarded this way.
follows suit instead of the cards that combine alongside it. Normally you see bans for cards that enable poor play experiences, an example being
Faithless Looting
Faithless Looting
Draw two cards, then discard two cards.
Flashback {2}{R} (You may cast this card from your graveyard for its flashback cost. Then exile it.)
in Modern. Either way, banning
Hullbreacher
Hullbreacher
Flash
If an opponent would draw a card except the first one they draw in each of their draw steps, instead you create a Treasure token. (It's an artifact with "{T}, Sacrifice this token: Add one mana of any color.")
is the right call to ensure the health of the format.
It’s not often we see bans in Commander but when we do, they’re welcomed with open arms. Players can take comfort sitting in a Commander pod without an obnoxious card to stifle their play experience.
Read More: Ranking The Forgotten Realms MTG Commanders